Philippine senators propose bills to lower telecommunications costs

Two separate bills have been introduced in the Philippine Senate aimed at reducing telecommunications costs for consumers.

Senator Loren Legarda has filed the ‘SULIT Load Act,’ which seeks to lower default prepaid call and text rates to reflect modern technology and network capacity. The bill proposes interim maximum rates of ₱0.50 per SMS, ₱2.00 per minute for domestic mobile calls, and ₱3.00 per minute for mobile-to-landline calls. The measure would require the National Telecommunications Commission, along with the DICT, DTI, and Philippine Competition Commission, to review and rationalize regular prepaid rates based on actual costs and competition.

Separately, Senator Erwin Tulfo is pushing Senate Bill No. 2275, known as the ‘Student Load Discount Act.’ This legislation proposes a mandatory 20% discount on mobile prepaid load, postpaid plans, and internet packages for all enrolled Filipino students from elementary through higher education. The goal is to alleviate the financial burden on families during the shift to online learning modalities, particularly during weather-related class suspensions.